Folding umbrella.



T. J. KENNEDY.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED @2124, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

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THOMAS J. KENNEDY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 24, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 519,436.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. KENNEDY, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at N. S. Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Folding Umbrellas, of. which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to folding umbrellas, and the invention has forits objects; first, to provide an umbrella that can be folded to occupya comparatively small space without increasing the weight or dimensionsof the umbrella; second, to furnish the ribs and stretchers of anumbrella with novel means whereby they can be folded without injuringthe cover of the umbrella; third, to provide an umbrella that can beplaced in a trunk or satchel and advantageously used by travelers; andfourth, to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive umbrella.

I accomplish the above objects by a mechanical construction that isillustrated in the drawing that will now be referred to, in which Figure1 is an elevation of the stick, one rib and spreader, the remaining ribsand spreaders being omitted. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the stick,spreader and rib as folded. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of a portionof the rib, partly broken away and partly in section. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view of the rib on line XX, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of portions of a stick joint, and Fig. 6 is a vertical section viewof a portion of the stick.

In the drawings, the reference numerals 1 and 2 denote tubular rodsections constituting the stick of the umbrella, the rod sections 2having the conventional form of tip 3 and notched collar 4, while therod section 1 is provided with a suitable handle 5. The confronting endsof the rod sections 1 and 2 are provided with oppositely disposedapertured lugs 6 and pivotally connected to said lugs is an intermediatesemicylindrical section 7 permitting of the sections 1 and 2 beingfolded in one direction.

Slidably mounted in the sections 1, 2, and 7 is a rod 8 having the upperend thereof provided with a button 9 extending through an elongatedopening or slit 10 provided therefor in the lower end of the section 2.

When the rod 8 is moved into the section 2 the umbrella stick can befolded, and when the rod 8 extends into the section 1 a rigid connectionis provided between said sections.

Pivotally connected to the notched collar 4 in the ordinary manner arethe ribs of the umbrella, comprising inner and outer sections 12 and 13.These sections have the confronting ends thereof reduced to provideapertured lugs 21, and these lugs are pivotally connected together by alink 22. Mounted upon the lower end of the rib section 12 is acylindrical housing 23 for a sleeve 24 and encircling the lower end ofthe rib section 12 within the housing 23 is a coiled spring 25, saidspring being arranged between the end of the sleeve 24 and the end ofthe housing 23. This spring is adapted to normally retain the sleeve 24in an extended position inclosing the confronting ends of the ribsections 12 and 13 and the link 22, to form a stiff and rigid connectionbetween the rib sections. It is preferable to attach the ends of thespring to the housing 23 and the sleeve 24, whereby said sleeve can notbecome accidentally displaced relative to said housing. To retain thesleeve 24 within the housing 23 whereby the rib section 13 can be foldedtoward the rib section 12, the lower end of the housing 23 is providedwith a pivoted hook-shaped catch 26 adapted to be swung to a positionwhereby the hooked end thereof will engage over the outer end of thehousing 23 and the outer end of the sleeve 24 thereby retaining thelatter within the housing. The hook or catch 26 is clearly shown in Fig.4 and has its inner end pivoted upon the periphery of the housing 23.

The outer ends of the rib sections 12 are provided with coupling members14 and pivotally connected to these members are the sections 15 and 16of stretchers, said stretcher sections being connected together similarto the rib sections 12 and 13. The stretcher sections 15 are pivotallyconnected, as at 17 to the upper end of a runner 18 movably mounted uponthe umbrella stick, said runner being held in a raised position upon thesection 2 by a catch 19 and in a lowered position upon the section 1 bya catch 20, these catches being common in the present type of umbrella.The runner is of a suflicient diameter to clear the button 9 when theumbrella is in a lowered position.

It is thought that the utility and manner of foldin the umbrella isapparent from the drawing without further description,

and while I have shown what I believe to be a practical embodiment of myinvention, still I reserve the right to make various changes in thestructural elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' opposing ends of said sections together, a

housing carried by the inner rib section, a

spring-controlled locking sleeve extending within said housing andprojecting over said link for normally maintaining the sections in anextended position, a spring surrounding the upper rib section andinterposed between one end of the housing and the inner end of saidsleeve for normally maintaining said sleeve projected from the housing,and a hook pivotally-mounted upon the housing and adapted to be swung toextend over the outer end of the housing and engage the outer end of thesleeve whereby the sleeve is retained in a retracted sections.

2. An umbrella comprising an inner and an outer rib section eachprovided with an apertured end, a link attached to said ends forpivotally connecting the sections together, a housing carried by theinner rib section upon the apertured end thereof, a spring-controlledlocking sleeve extending within said housing and normally projectingover said link for maintaining the section in an extended position, aspring surrounding the upper rib section and inclosed by said housingand interposed between the upper end of the housing and the inner end ofthe sleeve for normally maintaining said sleeve projected, and meanscarried by the housing and adapted to engage the outer end of saidsleeve for retaining the latter in a retracted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS J. KENNEDY.

Witnesses:

MAX H. SRoLovrrz, KARL H. BUTLER.

